Retractor Mechanism For Collars

Abstract

A retractor mechanism for a pet collar. The mechanism includes a case with a cavity, a spool assembly with a spool plate, a line wound on the spool assembly with a free end exiting the case that is attached to a leash handle, a power spring that biases the spool assembly to a wound state, and a centrifugal/inertial brake having with a lock member with a heavier distal end a lighter proximal end, and lock member spring. The lock member pivots on the spool plate. When the spool assembly is spun above a threshold rotations speed, a centripetal force acting on the distal end of the lock member exceeds a spring force of the lock member spring acting on the proximal end of the lock member, thereby pivoting the lock member into contact with a catch in the cavity of the case to prevent the spool assembly from rotating further.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retractor mechanism for a pet collar, comprising:
 a case including a cavity, and having a line egress;   a spool assembly with a spool plate rotatably positioned in the cavity;   a line having a fixed end and a free end, the line being wound on the spool assembly and affixed at the fixed end to the spool assembly, with the free end extending from the line egress in the case;   a power spring engaged with the spool assembly and the case, which power spring biases the spool assembly and the line to a wound state;   a centrifugal/inertial brake having a lock member and lock member spring, the lock member having a distal lock end, a proximal end, and a pivot for pivotally engaging the lock member to the spool plate, the lock member being biased by the lock member spring to a unlocked position wherein the distal lock end is pivoted inwardly into the spool plate, and movable to a locked position where the distal lock end pivots outwardly where it impinges on the case and prevents further rotation of the spool assembly, wherein the unlocked position is maintained when the spool assembly are either not rotating or not rotating above a threshold rotational speed and wherein if the spool assembly is rotated above the threshold rotational speed then a biasing force of the spring acting on the lock member is overcome and the distal lock end of the lock member pivots to its locked position.   
     
     
         2 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 1 , further comprising a lock switch with a lock detent, the lock switch being switchable between a unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the spool assembly further comprises a gear, the gear have gear teeth which are captured by the lock detent of the lock switch when the lock switch is in the locked position, which locked position locks the spool assembly in place and prevents the line from being further retracted from the case. 
     
     
         3 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 2 , wherein the lock switch further comprises a leaf spring to maintain the position of the lock switch in one of the unlocked and locked position. 
     
     
         4 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 1 , further comprising a catch formed on an inside of the cavity of the case, which catch captures the distal end of the lock member when the lock member is in its locked position. 
     
     
         5 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 1 , wherein the spool assembly comprises a non-round shaft and the spool plate has a complementary opening formed therethrough with the spool plate non-rotatably seating on the spool assembly, and wherein the spool plate includes a stop against which rides the lock member spring. 
     
     
         6 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 1 , wherein the spool plate is separate from but located adjacent to the spool assembly and non-rotatably engages therewith. 
     
     
         7 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 1 , wherein the case further comprises attachment bars. 
     
     
         8 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 1 , further comprising a leash handle that attaches to the free end of the line. 
     
     
         9 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 1 , wherein the line comprises ultra high molecular weight polyethylene material. 
     
     
         10 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 4 , wherein a plurality of lock members and lock member springs and a plurality of catches are provided. 
     
     
         11 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 1 , wherein the lock member is generally L-shaped, with the pivot located at a transition between the distal lock end and the proximal end, and wherein the distal lock end has more mass than the proximal end, and wherein the lock member spring impinges on the proximal end to bias it to the locked position, wherein when the spool plate is rotated above the threshold speed, a centripetal force acting on the distal lock end of the lock member will be in excess of the biasing force of the spring acting on the proximal end and the centripetal force will pivot the lock member so that its distal end impinges on the case. 
     
     
         12 . A retractor mechanism for a pet collar, comprising:
 a case including a cavity with a catch formed in the cavity, and having a line egress;   a lock switch that is switchable between an unlocked position, and a locked position, the lock switch having a lock detent;   a spool assembly with a gear, the gear having gear teeth for capture by the lock detent of the lock switch;   a spool plate that is located adjacent to the spool assembly and engages therewith, the spool assembly and spool plate being rotatably located in the cavity;   a line having a fixed end and a free end, the line being wound on the spool assembly and affixed at the fixed end to the spool assembly, with the free end extending from the line egress in the case;   a power spring engaged with the spool assembly and the case, which power spring biases the spool assembly and the line to a wound state;   a centrifugal/inertial brake having a lock member and lock member spring, the lock member having a distal lock end, a proximal end, and a pivot for pivotally engaging the lock member to the spool plate, the lock member being biased by the lock member spring to a unlocked position wherein the distal lock end is pivoted inwardly into the spool plate, and movable to a locked position where the distal lock end pivots outwardly where it impinges on the catch of the case and prevents further rotation of the spool plate and the attached spool assembly, wherein the unlocked position is maintained when the spool plate and the connected spool assembly are either not rotating or not rotating above a threshold rotational speed and wherein if the spool plate and its connected spool assembly are rotated above the threshold rotational speed then a biasing force of the spring acting on the lock member is overcome and the distal lock end of the lock member pivots to its locked position.   
     
     
         13 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 12 , wherein the lock switch further comprises a tension leaf spring to maintain the position of the lock switch in one of the unlocked and locked position. 
     
     
         14 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 12 , wherein a plurality of lock members and lock member springs and a plurality of catches are provided. 
     
     
         15 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 14 , wherein each lock member is generally L-shaped, with the pivot located at a transition between the distal lock end and the proximal end, and wherein the distal lock end has more mass than the proximal end, and wherein the lock member spring impinges on the proximal end to bias it to the locked position, wherein when the spool plate is rotated above the threshold speed, a centripetal force acting on the distal lock ends of the lock members will be in excess of the biasing force of the spring acting on the proximal ends and the centripetal force will pivot the lock members so that their distal end impinges on the case. 
     
     
         16 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 12 , wherein the spool assembly comprises a non-round shaft and the spool plate has a complementary opening formed therethrough with the spool plate non-rotatably seating on the spool assembly, and wherein the spool plate includes a stop against which rides the lock member spring. 
     
     
         17 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 12 , wherein the case further comprises attachment bars for affixing the retractor mechanism to a pet collar. 
     
     
         18 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 12 , further comprising a leash handle that extends attaches to the free end of the line. 
     
     
         19 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 12 , wherein the cable line comprises ultra high molecular weight polyethylene material. 
     
     
         20 . The retractor mechanism for a pet collar of  claim 12 , wherein the spool plate is integral with the spool assembly.